Theater-chair.



A. SZYMKOWIAK.

THEATER CHAIR.

APPLICATION men JAN. 12. 1915.

1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

O 3 R a J d e t n m a P INVENTOR: jz m/mwm/f A TTORNE YS.

W I TNESSES I QM w w w A. SZYMKOWIAK.

THEATER CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2. I915. mm 39%., w Patented Jan.30,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IN VEN TO WITNESSES 2 R Tilt i TUN SZYMKOWIAK, 015 SANJEAN'CISCO, CALIFORNIA.

THEATER-(113A Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 36, 191?.

Application filed. January 12, 1915. Serial No. 1,799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANTON SZYMKOWIAK, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, re' siding at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco andState of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Theater-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in theater chairs, the principalobject being to provide a chair of improved construction, which has todo with the safety and convenience of the occupants.

My chair is more convenient to the user due to the fact that when aperson wishes to pass in front of the occupant, the latter may slide theseat backward and so give a greater space between his knees and the-rowof chairs in front. The chair is also conducive to safety on account ofthe fact that the seat automatically rises when the occupant rises, thusleaving clear the space between the rows of chairs which in case ofpanic is of great assistance in quickly emptying the theater.

My aim in the several features of the construction of this chair is toprovide a simple device of few parts and having only two springs. Alsoto so proportion the various members of the chalr that there is nodanger of clothing or the person being caught between the several partsthereof.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts as herein describedand more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

lteferring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure1 is a view in front elevation of my improved chair. Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation thereof, showing the seat in its rearmost position. Fig.3

is a view in section through one side of the chair showing the seat inits normal position when not occupied, also showing the seat in dottedoutlines in its normal position, when occupied. Fig. i is an enlargedview in section through the operating mechanism of one side of thechair. Fi 5 is a sectional view on 5--5, Fig. 4. lFi .6 IS a plan viewof one side of the chairs owing the -bracket used to connect certainarms with the back of the chair. Fig. 8 is a sectional View through thetop of the supporting member and the back of the seat. Fig. 9 is a viewin side elevation of the said supporting member.

Denoting corresponding parts in the several views by the same numeralsof referonce, 1 denotes the supporting side frames of my chair, whichmay be of any preferred fanciful or ornamental shape, these frames beingprovided with arms 2 and the back supporting standards 3. The seat 4 isof the usual veneered wood construction having the longitudinal sidemembers 5, in the lower portion of which is formed a groove wherein isfastened a channel shaped member 6, this member providing a track forcertain rollers 7 and having the forward end extending outwardly as at 8for the purpose hereinafter described.

Formed integrally on the side frames or attached thereto by suitablescrews or bolts, are the rectangular hollow casings 8, the bottom ofwhich is formed on a regular curve, as shown at 9. A portion of the topand rear end of this casing is open as at 10 and movable therein is ahollow rectangular arm 11. Intermediate its ends the top and bottomsurfaces of this arm are cut away, as shown at 12, and pivotally mountedin the slot thus produced is an irregular cam shaped member 13, whichlatter is provided with the upwardly extending arm 14, which is againbent in a lateral direction, as shown at 15, and attached to the member5.

In the forward end of the arm 11 is mounted a roller 16, the bottomsurface of which extends through an opening in the underside of the armand rests on the curved surface 9. The front end of the arm is providedwith a resilient bumper 17, which is adapted to make contact with theforward end of casing 8 and so limit the relative movement of theseparts. A lug 17 is formed in the casing 8 to project over the forwardend of arm 11 and hold the roller 16 on the curve 9 when the'seat is inits lower and forward position. The rear. end

of arm 11 has formedthereon an eye 19, which is pivotally mounted to thebracket 20, which is shown in front elevation in Fig. 7. This bracket isprovided with wings 21 between which the back 22 is held by means of thedouble screws 23. In this fastening one screw as at 24, is of the usualconstruction, while its mating screw 25 is provided with interiorthreads into which the screw 24 engages. In this manner there isprovided a fastening which is flush with both sides of the brackets, andwhich provides for any variation in the thickness thereof. The bracketis provided with depending ears 26 and on the inside thereof are formedcertain cam surfaces 27. A pin or pivot 27 passes through the lower endof the cars 26 and holds thereon the eye 19, thus pivotally securingthis end of arm 11 to the bracket.

.VVithin the arm is provided a spring arrangement; adapted to hold theseat in its raised position, as shown at Fig. 3, and to bring forwardthe seat-after the latter has been moved backward in the position shownin Fig. 2. This mechanism consists of the 'U-shaped member 28 havingpivotally mounted therein a roller 29, the latter being adapted to bearagainst the surface of cam 13. At the other end of the spring is asquare nut 30 in threaded engagement with the screw 31, this screw beingreduced on its outer end, and seated on the shoulder thus formed is awedge like member 32, the sides of which bear against the cam surfaces27.

The rear end of the screw is formed with a square portion 33, whichenables the spring to be adjusted by inserting-a key through the opening34 and turning the screw so as to run the nut 30 along the threadthereof.

The upper portion of the back is pivotally mounted to the supports 3 ina manner shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. The top of the standard andthe cap 39 are provided on each side with semicircular recesses 36wherein are seated the heads of screws 37. The shank of the screwprojects through an opening in the side of the support and is inthreaded engagement with the bracket 38, which is attached to the uppercorner of the back 22 by means of screws 23, similar to those alreadydescribed. The cap 39' is provided with a shoulder adapted to fit in acorresponding recess in the upper surface of the support 3 and is heldtherein by means of screw 40. I have thus provided effective means forsecuring the backs to their supports, which enables any back to beremoved for repairs independent of the back of any other seat.

Having thus described the parts of my invention the operation is asfollows :The normal position of the seat being as illustrated in Fig.3,when a person depresses the seat it rotates about the roller 7 thecenter of this roller being in alinement with the pivotal point of cam13, thus as the seat is depressed this cam surface is rotated to shortenspring 31 and increase the tension thereof, and as soon as the personrises the tendency of this spring is to rotate the cam surface 13 andthus raise the seat, until the rear portion contacts with bumpers 42. Ifwhile the person is seated another should pass in front of him, then bya backward motion the occupant is able to slide the seat backward on therollers 7 and 7, which causes the arm 11 to rotate on the eye 19 and themember 32 to move around the cam surface 27, and the latter being off atthe center 19 forces the member 32 into the arm 11 thereby increasingthe tension of the spring. Thus, again, when a person leaves the seatfree, the seat will move forward until the opening 6 in'the lower end ofthe track 6 is reached when the cam surface 13 is acted on by the springto lift the seat upwardly, or if the person remains seated the tendencyis to hold the seat forward.

It will thus be seen that I have provided effective and simple mechanismfor accomplishing the results set forth in the beginning of thisspecification, and while I have shown the preferred construction of myinvention it will be understood that minor changes may be made in form,proportion and details of construction without departing from theprinciples thereof.

What I claim as new and Wish to cover by Letters Patent is 1. A chair ofthe character described comprising side frames, a back having its upperedge pivotally mounted in said side frames, a seat, trackways carried bysaid seat, rollers carried by said side frames on which said trackwaysmay move, arms pivotally attached at one end to the lower edge of saidback, cam members pivotally mounted in saidarms adjacent their otherends, extensions on said cam members attached to said seat, and springmeans mounted in said arms which tend to rotate said seat about thepivot of said cam members, and hold it in its forward position on saidtrackway.

2. A chair of the character described comprising side frames, a backhaving its upper edge pivotally mounted in said side frames, a seat,trackways carried by said seat, rollers carried by said side frames onwhich said trackway may move, brackets attached to the lower corners ofsaid back, arms pivotally mounted at one end in said brackets, camshaped members pivotally mounted in said arms intermediate their ends,extensions from said cam members attached to said seats, springs mountedinsaid i aiaeao arms between said cam members and the pivoted ends, camsurfaces formed in said hrackets eccentric with the pivoted point ofsaid arms, bearing plates on one end of said springs adapted to rest onsaid cam surfaces, and rollers on the other ends of said springs adaptedto bear against the said cam shaped members whereby said seat tends toraise and to move to its forward position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANTON SZYMKOWJIAKQ Witnesses:

R. M. OYARZO, W. A. Simon.

